Sen. Rob Sampson: Majority Uses “Emergency” Powers for Convenience, Not Crisis

Hartford — State Sen. Rob Sampson (R-16) delivered pointed remarks on the Senate floor Feb 25, criticizing the majority party’s 139-page, emergency-certified bill as a misuse of emergency authority that ignores the real crisis facing Connecticut residents.

“The real emergency in Connecticut is affordability,” Sen. Sampson said. “Families are struggling to pay property taxes, electric bills, groceries, and prescription medication. Instead of addressing that crisis, the majority used emergency powers for their own convenience.”

Emergency certification, commonly known as “e-cert,” allows legislative leadership to bypass the public hearing and committee process and bring bills directly to the Senate and House floors for immediate votes. While allowed under legislative rules, the procedure eliminates public input and concentrates power in the hands of leadership.

Supermajority Democrats:

• rammed through so-called ‘emergency’ bills that are clearly not actual emergencies and did it without public input
• exempted people who are incarcerated for domestic abuse from having to make child support payments
• handed out millions of taxpayer dollars in unvetted earmarks to favored groups.

During debate, Sen. Sampson described the day’s proceedings as “earmarks-giving day” and “jam it through because we can day,” arguing that the emergency process was being used not for urgent circumstances, but to advance policy without public scrutiny.

“This process exists for true emergencies,” Sen. Sampson said. “Natural disasters. Immediate threats to public safety. It was never intended to be a shortcut for controversial policy or stalled proposals.”

Senate Republicans offered multiple amendments focused on tax relief, anti-corruption safeguards, and transparency reforms.

Supermajority Democrats voted against:

• cutting the income tax for working class families
• effectively eliminating the car tax
• eliminating the tax on social security
• eliminating the sales tax on back to school items
• reforming the corrupt earmark process

“If we are going to direct taxpayer dollars to specific projects, the public deserves transparency first,” Sen. Sampson said. “Rejecting even modest transparency requirements reinforces the perception that this is about power, not policy.”

Sen. Sampson warned that continued reliance on emergency certification for non-emergency policy sets a dangerous precedent.

“Rules that exist for extraordinary circumstances should not be used for ordinary politics,” Sen. Sampson said. “Doing so weakens public trust and diminishes the integrity of this institution.”

Sen. Sampson and Senate Republicans pledged to continue advocating for structural tax relief, transparency, and restoring fairness to the legislative process.